Jericho

We attended mass in an amalgamation of Arabic and English at the Parish Church of Our Lady of Fatima that we visited last week when we had visited the school next door.  The Parish Priest was the main celebrant and one of our priests gave the sermon, translated into Arabic after each bit by the Parish Priest.  They had chosen hymns that were known in both countries.  After the mass, we joined the parishioners in the church hall where the kids were showing their Technology Projects.

We met a couple and their little boy George who had lived in Gaza.  The husband's brother had been shot so they decided to leave Gaza.  Two years ago they got the opportunity to come to Bethlehem.  I asked them whether they were able to get jobs here.  She said it was easier for her as she was a teacher, but her husband had owned a jewellery job and was now working in a jewellery factory.  Since speaking to them, I have been told that a new law was passed on Tuesday which could effectively deport anyone living here who has come from Gaza.  Officially, if you have papers you are ok, but most of the papers are held by the Israeli authority.

Having left Bethlehem we drove through the wilderness to our hotel outside Jericho.  It was lovely to get away from the cities.  Whereas our previous hotels have been Franciscan pilgrimage hotels, this is an large international one with swimming pool etc, so all 200 of us are together for the first and last time.

This afternoon we went "swimming" in the dead sea.  Actually it is impossible to swim, just float.  the most difficult thing is getting vertical again.

Then we went to Qumran where the dead sea scrolls were found.  We saw an interesting film about the site then our guide took us round and explained each part.  These are replicas of the pots that the scrolls were found in.  Below is one of the caves the scrolls were found in.

We have had the same guide throughout - he is wonderful;  he goes out of his way to make sure everything works well and his knowledge of history, religion and politics is phenomenal and to top it all, he is a really nice man.

I have not mentioned food at all.  It has been very good, but every meal someone says "What's the betting we have chicken?"  Though last night we had lamb which was delicious.